The Future Fund has shifted its allocation away from developed markets equities and debt securities as it uses dynamic management to reduce risk levels at the margins. The volatile environment in global markets has led, in the past year, to a portfolio reduction of 360 basis points of equities in developed markets, a 130 basis … Read more
Chris Bowen MP, shadow treasurer, says that a bipartisan agreement on the objectives of superannuation can be reached. Addressing seventeen leaders of the superannuation industry, including chief executives of funds, directors of financial services companies and prominent thinkers, in an event hosted and created by Conexus Financial and Perpetual, Bowen asserted that clear objectives for … Read more
A move to low volatility and quality equity strategies has seen State Super Financial Services (SSFS) reduce volatility by up to 30 per cent in more than half of its equity allocation. The $15.3 billion fund, which runs pension portfolios for retirees from State Super across nine different investment options, took the decision three years … Read more
NSW infrastructure sales could benefit from the QLD election as funds reassess their strategy, says Harvey Kalman, Equity Trustees’ head of EQT corporate fiduciary and financial services. All asset sales of Queensland’s $37 billion privatisation program are on hold as businesses reel from the huge swing against the one-term Newman government. “It is a shame … Read more
Ten super fund chief investment officers earned more than their chief executive in 2013/2014. Six of these earned more than their chief executive before bonuses, with the remaining four surpassing the chief executive because of bonuses. Jim Christensen, chief investment officer at Telstra Super, out earned his chief executive by $551,515, the greatest difference in … Read more
Financial crises occur every nine years on average and each time they occur they reset finance theory – fiduciaries should beware. This is the central theme of a book Crisis and Complexity written by Ross Barry, the head of research at First State Super, which explores a dozen economic and financial catastrophes since the Mississippi … Read more
A sustainable life insurance system in the superannuation industry is two years away, as product design is still lacking, JP Morgan believes. While insurance markets profitably peaked in 2014, based on underlying trends, life insurance products, such as total and permanent disability cover, have hit industry funds hard with the rate of claims and payments … Read more
A greater focus on strategy and asset allocation rather than smaller matters is a simple step for boards and investment committees to improve fund performance, delegates at the Conexus Financial Chair Forum heard last week. Discussing the relationship between good governance and investment performance, chair of the investment committee at Equip Super, Andrew Pickering, said … Read more
Providing advice to members to think about an income in retirement, rather than taking a lump sum is “making a contribution to their lives”, says Neil Cochrane, chair of First State Super. Speaking on a panel session at the Conexus Financial Chair Forum on the Mornington Peninsula from January 18-20, Cochrane talked about how chairs … Read more
Sunsuper’s 12 strong investment operations team has identified over $10 million of potential cost savings and revenue in the last six months. The team, which has expanded by five members in the last year, has scrutinised portfolio activities to optimise cost efficiency from transactions, asset transitions, operational changes and tax liability. It has also improved … Read more
Funds that don’t look beyond the Financial System Inquiry (FSI) will fail to create successful post-retirement products believes FSI committee member Professor Kevin Davis. The design of products not only needs to take changes to regulation into account – as yet an unknown variable – but the whole of life after retirement, according to Davis. … Read more
UniSuper’s overweight position on Australian equity income stocks has helped its balanced fund to become the highest performing in 2014, it achieved 10 per cent returns – the lowest performing fund achieved 5.3 per cent. John Pearce, chief investment officer of UniSuper, continues to keep faith in domestic stocks despite widespread sentiment that falls in … Read more
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Investment Magazine provides in-depth, monthly analysis of trends and developments for all the businesses in which superannuation funds engage‚ including asset allocation, investment manager selection, custody and fund accounting, member administration, group insurance and compliance.
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of this land upon which Conexus Financial sits, the Cadigal of the Eora Nation. We recognise their continuing connection and unique cultural and spiritual relationships to the land, waters and community. We pay our deepest respects to them and their culture, and to Elders both past and present.
